70 duster: updating, and a no-dough pro-touring makeover
ok, update time.
and admitting that this upgrade process has snowballed into much more than origonally anticipated. i think by the time im done here, not much of the origonal build will be left. or my bank account.
when last i updated, i was working on the center console ideas. origonally i was going to use the AMX console and gauges. i cut the junk one up, and drove it for about 100 miles one day. hated it. with a passion. so i threw the junk one out. kept the good one and gauges just in case i ever needed it.
i put my lunchbox between the seats normally to act as an armrest. so i got to thinking of making my own console the size of my lunchbox, and adding some cupholders and storage in the process.
using some 3/8 plywood i had left over, i glued up a box to try out.
i have the cupholders clamped up at work, drying.
id like some feedback on the shape of the center part of the console. just seems way too square to me.
i also went up to hancock fabrics and bought some vynil. cost me 25 bucks for 6 yards worth, which will be enough to cover the console, some of the trunk close out panels, and the custom door panels that im planning on making. (yes, its snowballed into custom interior stuff now.)
more pics when i make up my mind on the console shape, and actually get some time to work on it.
on my last update, i also made the claim that i finally got my windows adjusted properly. i didnt, really. had a lot of wind noise from the rear quarter window to the front window seal. after running through EVERY adjustement i could, i still had the noise. finally broke down and spent 7 dollars on some weatherstripping from lowes to put in the gap. (the ribbed part you can see in the picture) NOW theres no wind noise. i swear the reproduction roofrail seals are to blame. they cant be made right to give me this much of a fight.
i also repained the door emblems before i put them back in.
on my last few drives, i smelled burning oil on the passengers side. i had assumed it was a leaking intake manifold rear seal leaking down on the header. so i started pulling the intake. luckily before i got too far, i noticed where all the oil had gotten to. figured out it was the calve cover gaskets.
ive had a set of finned aluminum cal custom valve covers for this car since the mid 90's. when i redid the car this last time, i went back to the stock covers as i didnt want it to look like something that wasnt stock. been thinking off and on about reinstalling the cal-customs. this was my motivation.
when i pulled them put of storage, they looked REALLY bad. needed a lot of work.
so i broke out my old harbor freight buffer, rouges, and wheels and went to town.
10 hours later, i had them and a 280z valve cover done. (the 280z cover is for my best friend, whos building one)
side by side pic with the stockers
turns out that these made contact with my intake manifold. the simple solution was this:
cost me 45 bucks and had to be special ordered. works perfect, though.
to get these on, i also had to buy an oil fill cap, breather, elbow, bolts, and drill and baffle the drivers side for the PCV valve.14 bucks for all of that. also 4 dollars worth of 3/8 rubber line.
once i got them on, i realized i had no more plug wire separators. ive looked at the made4you wire looms in summit for years. so i ordered them. very nice product, especially for only 35 bucks.
put my 7 mil parts store wires in them, and was not happy with the result.
so down at autozone, they stock MSD street fire cut to fit wires. bought them for 45. still dont have them on, though. also got 16 worth of fresh plugs. fidured it was good time to do it.
havent got them in yet. on the plans for this week.
lastly, ive amassed more parts for my EFI conversion. all of it cost me 85 at pull-a-part today.
got a fresher ECM (7727 interchange)
5.9 magnum throttle body
5.9 magnum fuel rails (and installed my free 30lb injectors)
lean burn dist and the parts o convert it to GM HEI style computer control, new oil pressure switch
question. does anyone have a source for an AN adapter version of this fitting?
so, thats all for now. hoping to get the plugs and wires finished this week so i can get it cleaned up for my wife and i's trip to the beach for our anniversiary in two weeks.
new budget total: 5489.15
michael
ok, update time.
and admitting that this upgrade process has snowballed into much more than origonally anticipated. i think by the time im done here, not much of the origonal build will be left. or my bank account.
when last i updated, i was working on the center console ideas. origonally i was going to use the AMX console and gauges. i cut the junk one up, and drove it for about 100 miles one day. hated it. with a passion. so i threw the junk one out. kept the good one and gauges just in case i ever needed it.
i put my lunchbox between the seats normally to act as an armrest. so i got to thinking of making my own console the size of my lunchbox, and adding some cupholders and storage in the process.
using some 3/8 plywood i had left over, i glued up a box to try out.
i have the cupholders clamped up at work, drying.
id like some feedback on the shape of the center part of the console. just seems way too square to me.
i also went up to hancock fabrics and bought some vynil. cost me 25 bucks for 6 yards worth, which will be enough to cover the console, some of the trunk close out panels, and the custom door panels that im planning on making. (yes, its snowballed into custom interior stuff now.)
more pics when i make up my mind on the console shape, and actually get some time to work on it.
on my last update, i also made the claim that i finally got my windows adjusted properly. i didnt, really. had a lot of wind noise from the rear quarter window to the front window seal. after running through EVERY adjustement i could, i still had the noise. finally broke down and spent 7 dollars on some weatherstripping from lowes to put in the gap. (the ribbed part you can see in the picture) NOW theres no wind noise. i swear the reproduction roofrail seals are to blame. they cant be made right to give me this much of a fight.
i also repained the door emblems before i put them back in.
on my last few drives, i smelled burning oil on the passengers side. i had assumed it was a leaking intake manifold rear seal leaking down on the header. so i started pulling the intake. luckily before i got too far, i noticed where all the oil had gotten to. figured out it was the calve cover gaskets.
ive had a set of finned aluminum cal custom valve covers for this car since the mid 90's. when i redid the car this last time, i went back to the stock covers as i didnt want it to look like something that wasnt stock. been thinking off and on about reinstalling the cal-customs. this was my motivation.
when i pulled them put of storage, they looked REALLY bad. needed a lot of work.
so i broke out my old harbor freight buffer, rouges, and wheels and went to town.
10 hours later, i had them and a 280z valve cover done. (the 280z cover is for my best friend, whos building one)
side by side pic with the stockers
turns out that these made contact with my intake manifold. the simple solution was this:
cost me 45 bucks and had to be special ordered. works perfect, though.
to get these on, i also had to buy an oil fill cap, breather, elbow, bolts, and drill and baffle the drivers side for the PCV valve.14 bucks for all of that. also 4 dollars worth of 3/8 rubber line.
once i got them on, i realized i had no more plug wire separators. ive looked at the made4you wire looms in summit for years. so i ordered them. very nice product, especially for only 35 bucks.
put my 7 mil parts store wires in them, and was not happy with the result.
so down at autozone, they stock MSD street fire cut to fit wires. bought them for 45. still dont have them on, though. also got 16 worth of fresh plugs. fidured it was good time to do it.
havent got them in yet. on the plans for this week.
lastly, ive amassed more parts for my EFI conversion. all of it cost me 85 at pull-a-part today.
got a fresher ECM (7727 interchange)
5.9 magnum throttle body
5.9 magnum fuel rails (and installed my free 30lb injectors)
lean burn dist and the parts o convert it to GM HEI style computer control, new oil pressure switch
question. does anyone have a source for an AN adapter version of this fitting?
so, thats all for now. hoping to get the plugs and wires finished this week so i can get it cleaned up for my wife and i's trip to the beach for our anniversiary in two weeks.
new budget total: 5489.15
michael